Find out the latest on the standoff between China and the United States over a downed American surveillance airplane from Paul Wiseman, USA TODAY's Asia correspondent. He'll be live online from Hainan Island to talk about the latest round of negotiations and the status of the aircraft's crew of 24.

Shenzhen China:
Say if a Chinese spyplane had an emergency land in Hawaii, while Pentagon belived that this aircraft might possess information that imposed danger to the U.S national security, would the U.S military or the CIA inspect, search, or seize the aircraft without the permission from China?

Paul Wiseman:
Even some US officials admit privately that the US would inspect the aircraft under similar circumstances and in fact did so during incidents like this one during the Cold War.Illinois:
Do incidents of this nature help the Chinese leadership deflect attention away from their country's internal problems and is that the real reason that they occur?

Paul Wiseman:
The Chinese leadership certainly has used incidents like this one to divert attention from unpleasant internal problems. The government, for instance, stoked public anger after NATO bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade in May 1999. The US isn't the only target. Chinese leaders also sometimes like to take on Japan, which is deeply unpopular among Chinese because of atrocities Japanese soldiers committed during World War II. Chinese leaders routinely demand that Japan apologize for its behavior during the war.

In a way, it is understandable why the Chinese leadership might want to divert attention to external rivals. The country is undergoing a wrenching economic transformation. Inefficient state-owned companies are being forced to become more efficient or go out of business. Millions of workers are losing their jobs and China has no established safety net to ease the pain. Unemployment is in double digits in many urban areas. And unrest has been growing in rural areas, where local despots impose arbitrary and exorbitant taxes and fees.Newnan, Ga:
Do you think that our airmen are being held as a bargaining chip to influence the President's Decision on the sale of agis war ships to taiwan

Paul Wiseman:
I don't think the two are directly related -- that is, I don't think the Chinese will hold the crew until and unless the US decides against selling Aegis-equipped destroyers to Taiwan. That would be very provocative. But the standoff over the spy plane does seem designed to set a tone, to suggest that the Chinese won't be bullied by the US and to make the US think twice before defying China's explicit warnings against selling Aegis to Taiwan.Vancouver, B.C, Canada:
It seem the debate on U.S policy to China have often been polarize between those favoring a "pragmatic engagement" and establishing economic relations with China versus those wanting a "hard-line containment" policy towards China, similar to the Soviet Union. I think neither of those views are entirely correct, but how does this spyplane standoff effect the debate? Will it give ammunition to the "hard-liners" or raise the need for more communication with the Chinese as favor by the "engagement" group? Which side will sway the President's ear?

Paul Wiseman:
For now, the spy plane standoff seems to strengthen the hand of those in the US who view China as a strategic rival or an outright adversary. Certainly, the American public is angry about China's refusal to release the 24 crew members. I am guessing, however, that U.S. businesses will soon be sending strong signals to the Bush administration to find a way to limit the damage to US-China relations. For the most part, they liked President Clinton's policy of trying to build a "strategic partnership'' with China. An American businessman with operations in China rather plaintively asked me, "Can we have Clinton back?''Plainsboro, NJ:
Is it safe to be going into China right now? I'm in Hong Kong and will travel by ferry to Jiangmen, China in 4 hours. Any problems?

Paul Wiseman:
I don't think you'll have any problems. Although most Chinese blame the US for the collision, they still think it was an accident. I have sensed no hostility here on Hainan Island. For a few days after the embassy bombing in '99, it was actually dangerous to admit you were American on the streets of Beijing. Nothing like that this time.Leshan, Sichuan, China:
Not really a question but simply a remark. While China may react in many ways there are things that could keep it in check like the bid for the Olympics, and the arms sales to Taiwan. However I generally believe that the American people are not bery aware of the strong sence of Nationalism in China. It is not just the country leaders but most of the people see China as a victum of the foreign world that the see America leading. I'll certianly be interested to hear what my Chinese students have to say about it.

Paul Wiseman:
I agree. I don't think most Americans know much about how much China suffered at the hands of foreign powers (particularly Japan) in the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. Chinese nationalism runs strong and sometimes turns ugly, as it did briefly in '99.Miami, Fl:
How is the attitude of the chinese people of the Hainan Island,toward you, an american, since this standoff started?

Paul Wiseman:
Most people have been very friendly. Some are a little nervous about talking to an American reporter during this senstive time. But I have encountered absolutely no hostility. Some Hainan residents do not even know about the mid-air collision and the crash-landing of the EP-3. I've found that when I ask people about the incident they will sometimes say that they blame the US and that they are angry. But they don't seem to mean it. I almost have to provoke the response by asking. Yesterday, for example, I visited an Internet chat room in the town of Lingshui, where the EP-3 crash-landed. A bunch of teenagers came in. I asked one especially brash young man what he thought of the incident. He declared: "China must stand up to the US!" But then he smiled broadly and started laughing. He wasn't serious at all. As I mentioned earlier, I didn't have to provoke the hostility after the '99 bombing; it was obvious.Kodiak, Alaska:
Has the US gained any ground on being able to talk face to face with the crew of the P-3?

Paul Wiseman:
Two US diplomats met with the crew last night and reported that they were in good health and being well treated. Some diplomats did go out shopping this morning to pick up toiletries and clothing for the detained crew members. Another meeting is being arranged.Comment from USATODAY.com Host:
That was the last question for Paul Wiseman. Thanks to everyone who joined in.